Pride Events Under Pressure After Reform UK Council Victories
Pride organisers across north-east England are adapting to a hostile landscape after Reform UK councils, elected in May, imposed bans on flying pride flags from civic buildings and defunded local pride events. Peter Darrant, chief executive of the One Centre, a community space in Gateshead, has run pride events for 15 years across three councils. In Gateshead and Sunderland, Reform-led councils withdrew funding and stopped flag displays, while South Tyneside limited flag display to a single day.
Darrant consolidated three months of events into one and moved them from council land to private spaces. This weekend, a march in Sunderland will gather opposite the flag-less city hall. “In previous years, it’s always turned into a concert at the end, but this year we didn’t think it was right to party,” Darrant said. “We wanted to do something political.”
Rising Hostility and Security Concerns
Darrant reports increased offline aggression. “Before, people might mutter. Now, more people come up, slamming the table, challenging us.” He doubled private security for the event due to threats. “Some people will say ‘it’s just a flag’, but it’s about visibility and representation,” he said.
Despite the backlash, Darrant stresses that pride was born from protest. “I would never stop anybody’s right to protest. But let’s debate and have a conversation.”
Economic Impact of Funding Cuts
Darrant estimates that for every pound from local authorities, pride events returned £7 to the local economy. However, sponsors are pulling back. “A couple of big previous sponsors have said they can’t get involved because they’re pitching for contracts with the local authorities,” he said.
Mixed Reactions from the Community
In Gateshead, most residents criticised the flag ban as homophobic. However, a lesbian business owner told the Guardian she “couldn’t care less” about the ban. “I feel very accepted compared to when I came out 20 years ago. Putting flags everywhere today sends the message we’re different.”
A Return to Protest Roots
Darrant, who was truncheoned by police at a 1988 march against Section 28, sees a silver lining. “We’ve got to go back to protest,” he said. He believes the current backlash against the trans community is another reason to unite. “We need to bring our allies along. We’ve shouted at them about pronouns. We do need to rethink what pride is – and that might not be a bad thing.”
